At The Shed On The Left, we believe that brilliant results come from brilliant materials. Every brush stroke, every finish, every protective coat – it all starts with choosing the right products for the job. After years of trial and testing, we’ve built up a toolkit of trusted brands and techniques that deliver stunning, long-lasting results every single time.
Paint That Makes All the Difference
We work exclusively with top-quality furniture mineral paints from the brands that have earned their stripes in the restoration world:
Annie Sloan – The godmother of chalk paint, her range offers unparalleled depth and coverage
Frenchic – Brilliant British-made paints with fantastic durability
Valspar – Trusted quality with an extensive colour palette
Vintage with Grace – Beautiful, rich tones perfect for that authentic vintage look
Fusion – Modern mineral paints that blend tradition with innovation
Each of these ranges offers a massive selection of colours, so whether you’re after something subtle and sophisticated for a fine dining establishment, or bold and vibrant for a trendy café, we’ve got you covered. Want to explore the full colour ranges? We can point you towards their websites so you can see exactly what’s possible.
Waxes That Protect and Perfect
A great paint job is only as good as its finishing touches, and that’s where our carefully selected waxes come in:
Annie Sloan Dark Wax – Perfect for adding depth and age to painted pieces
Frenchic Clear and White Wax – Brilliant protection with a beautiful, natural finish
Frenchic Defining Wax – This is our secret weapon for highlighting all those lovely intricate details and ornate areas
Gilding Wax (Gold and Silver) – When you want to add a touch of luxury and highlight special decorative elements
Colron Natural Beeswax – Traditional, reliable, and gives that gorgeous natural sheen
We apply these by hand using lint-free cloths, sponges, or brushes, depending on what the piece needs. It’s all about getting into every curve and crevice to ensure even coverage and protection.
The Right Tools for the Right Job
You can have the best paint in the world, but without quality brushes, you won’t get quality results. That’s why we invest in the finest brushes from trusted manufacturers:
Staalmeester – Both pointed and flat brushes that give superb control and finish
Harris Brushes – Reliable British quality that delivers consistent results
Hamilton – Professional-grade tools for professional results
Mister Rui Chalk and Mineral Paint Brushes – Specially designed for the paints we use
Frenchic Brushes – Perfect partners for their paint range
We keep everything from large flat brushes for covering big surfaces quickly, right down to tiny pointed brushes for getting into the most intricate carved details. Each job gets the right tool – it makes all the difference.
Creative Techniques and Special Effects
Sometimes a piece calls for something a bit more adventurous than a straight colour. We love creating:
Stripes and Patterns using high-quality stencils and professional masking tape
Decoupage Details with carefully selected decorative papers
Transfer Designs for logos, motifs, or special graphics
Stamped Elements for repeated patterns and textures
These techniques are perfect for creating branded pieces for businesses or adding unique character details that make furniture truly one-of-a-kind.
The Art of Distressing: Shabby Chic Perfection
Distressed furniture – or shabby chic as it’s often called – is about recreating decades of authentic wear and character. It’s not about making furniture look damaged; it’s about capturing that lovely, lived-in charm that only comes with age.
Our distressing process:
We start by applying a liberal coat of mineral paint, moving the brush in all directions to create natural texture. The thicker the paint, the better it will crack and chip when we distress it – sometimes we’ll even leave the paint open overnight or pop it in the fridge for a couple of hours to get just the right consistency.
For authentic cracking, we might use a hair dryer held close to the surface until those lovely natural cracks start to appear. Once everything’s dry, we use coarse sandpaper to carefully chip away paint and reveal the beautiful wood underneath.
The magic happens in the finishing. We seal everything with clear chalk paint wax, then work dark wax into the brush marks and cracks for that genuinely aged look. Finally, we wipe away any excess with lint-free cloths and leave everything to cure – wax can be touch-dry quite quickly, but it takes up to two weeks to fully harden.
Hand-Painted, Individual, Unique
Every single piece that leaves our workshop is individually hand-painted. No production lines, no shortcuts – just skilled craftsmanship and attention to detail. This means every piece is genuinely bespoke, with its own character and personality.
The Story Behind Every Piece
All our furniture comes with history built-in. These pieces have been pre-loved, and that’s part of their charm. The gentle wear patterns, the way the wood has aged, the patina that’s developed over decades – you can’t manufacture that character, and it’s what makes vintage and traditional furniture so special.